Tottenham Hotspur could move for Marc Guehi after his failed transfer to Liverpool on summer deadline day
Tottenham Hotspur spent the majority of the summer transfer window searching for a No.10. It took until the final week of the window for them to land one in the form of Xavi Simons.
The deadline day saw Spurs surprise the fans with the loan acquisition of Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain. The club bosses understood the severity of Dominic Solanke’s latest ankle injury and quickly acted by bringing in Kolo Muani for the 2025/26 season. However, the north Londoners did fail to sign a centre-back and left-winger.
Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven have started the season well at the back, helping Spurs keeping clean sheets in wins over Burnley and Manchester City. However, given the centre-back pair’s injury record, Thomas Frank cannot rely upon them to cover all games this season. He does have Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai as cover, but Dragusin is continuing his rehab from an ACL rupture sustained back in January and Takai only joined the club from Kawasaki Frontale in July.
Thus, it would not be surprising if Tottenham go in search for a centre-back when the transfer window reopens in January.
Tottenham, Manchester United could make move for Crystal Palace defender
According to TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey, Tottenham and Manchester United are set to rival Liverpool for the signing of Crystal Palace defender Guehi in 2026.
Liverpool agreed a £35million deal with Crystal Palace for Guehi and the player even completed his medical in London on deadline day. The Reds had submitted a deal sheet to the Premier League to give them more time to get the move over the line, but within the hour the deal was dead in the water.
This happened because the Eagles failed to secure a replacement for their star defender, leading them to pull the plug on the deal on the demand of their manager, Oliver Glasner. With the 25-year-old’s contract ending in the summer, he will be able to reach a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from January 1.
Graeme Bailey says Liverpool will be back for Guehi when his contract expires next summer, but will face fierce competition from Tottenham and Manchester United for his signature.
“Liverpool will be back for him, of course. But they know they’ll be one of many clubs making an offer. Now, with Guehi, it resets everything. Everyone starts at a blank slate,” Bailey exclusively told TBR Football.
“Guehi’s people are aware of the clubs who have already told them they’ll be making an offer next summer – clubs like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid.
“In England, let’s see where Tottenham finish – they love him as a player. Would Chelsea come into the equation on a free transfer? Of course, they would. Man United? If they finish in the top four, of course they do.”
Spurs must plot a January swoop for Guehi
While Liverpool have done significant groundwork on a deal this year, the rising interest in Guehi could complicate matters. The England international, one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, will the most coveted free agent in the transfer market next summer.
With that in mind, Tottenham cannot afford to wait until the end of the 2025/26 season to sign the Palace star. As per latest reports, the Abidjan-born talent is set to be available for a fee of just £25 million in the January transfer window. A player of Guehi’s quality, leadership and experience at £25 million would represent an absolute bargain that the Lilywhites would not want to miss out on.
With a new chairman expected to be at the helm by then following Daniel Levy’s decision to step down from the post after nearly 25 years, Tottenham must be proactive and go all out for Guehi in winter.
